# yearn

/ˈjɝn/ (US) · /jˈɜːn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yearn
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to feel a very strong desire for something. You use this when you want something so much that it feels like a deep ache in your heart.

For teachers: to feel or express a strong, often painful longing for something. Intransitive — requires a prepositional phrase to indicate the object of the desire.

## Examples

- She yearns for a quiet life in the countryside.
- After years of working in the city, he finally yearns for the peace and space of a small coastal village.
- The protagonist's soul yearns for a connection to his distant ancestors, a longing that drives his every decision and fills his dreams with visions of a forgotten homeland.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.